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Remembering these words from Bobby McFerrin today as I contemplate our work at On Being and listen to his communal sharing of "Ave Maria" at the Montreal Jazz Festival several years ago:

"This is what I want everyone to experience at the end of my concert is everyone has this sense of rejoicing. I don't want them to be blown away by what I do, I want them to have this sense of real, real joy from the depths of their being. Because I think when you take them to that place, then you open up a place where grace can come in."

Joy is infectious indeed, and, as a joy filled person, Bobby McFerrin knows how to bring us into that space. It is remarkable to see how the audience participates in the co-creation of this joy. Isn't that the mystery? Thank you so much for sharing these video blog posts.

Joy to the world... takes on another meaning. Such joy, I delight in the wonder. It is so meaningful to me when there is the intertwining of the performer and the risk, vulnerablity, and loveliness of the audience.

Thank you Bobby. i have always loved and have been thrilled by the fact that Gounod and Bach were born in different times and different places, and yet their music flowed so flawlessly and beautifully together. I believe with all my heart that there is an unseen hand that guided Gounod to place The Ave on top of Bach's Prelude. The audience participation created a special moment in time when they too could be a part of this beautiful musical encounter.

I had chills as I listened to this. It causes me to think about the power of music - the power of a group of people singing together - the power of a leader facilitating a new experience - the power of each individual's memory to hold that experience and take it with them into their life journeys.

I went to hear Garrison Keillor do a reading at Yale several years ago and he read a few of his essays. Good, poignant, funny stuff. But at the end of his program, he asked the audience to sing with him. We sang Love Me Tender by Elvis and I'll always remember feeling in an altered state created by singing those words in unison with the whole audience. There was a hushed magic in the air as we filed out, electrifying and peaceful. There is nothing, in my opinion, more bonding than singing in unison.